there's too many "we're being mean to Reimer, we're jackasses, blah blah" to quote, so i'm just going to use these two for my template.
I personally believe, Reimer was never really going to be "the goaltender" in Toronto. He was never going to reach Eagle or Cujo or Cat status. [we sure like our animals]. Ever. Which means, Reimer was always going to be eventually traded for some assets or parlay into a better situation draft wise.
Why, Daisy? What ever do you mean? [You're asking yourself].
Well - simple.
Exhibit A: Luongo. You can not possibly tell me that all the rumours [and they were reaching JVR for Schenn velocity, basically -this close to actually happening] was to 'surround' Reimer with experienced backup. Luongo was coming here to play. The end. and it never happened
Exhibit B: Kippersof. And the only reason why that didn't happen was because Kipper was pretty much out of the league at that point anyway, and said he wouldn't report to Toronto
Exhibit C: Bernier. Nonis doesn't do "flash in the pan" moves. You can even argue his two flash in the pan moves were Clarkson [and look how that turned out] and Bolland [ditto]. The Bernier deal took
ten months to complete. Which means, the minute Nonis got hired as the GM,
his first inclination was to get another goaltender. And you don't pick up Bernier who went to HIS GM and asked for a trade to be a starter - if he's not going to be your starter. Which also means - in the 3 years [11 when he came up, last year, and this summer], Nonis did not like what he saw. The end.
zeke [and other people] have put up the comparison numbers between Bernier and Reimer. Ever month Reimer's numbers have been declining. Both goaltenders are facing the same putrid defensive core. Reimer even had the advantage of
playing in front of that putrid defensive core. But his numbers are poorer. The. end.
And truthfully - I'm sorry. If his play is poor because he hasn't been on a roll - fine. but the minute people start saying 'his confidence is shot because of competition, or whatever." I personally don't want that person on my team as a goaltender. He's not a rookie. he's not even a sophmore now. It's not anyone's job [nor is it the fanbase] to pump his tires because he's feeling a little down on himself for not playing better. HIS response should be - in my estimation - is to play mind blowingly amazing. and you can say that's not fair, or that's not right - but that's life in this league, and that's life in this market.
Reimer himself drew the line in the sand. I will go to bat for every single one of these players - but when you decide to declare Waterloo - you better be sure. Franson did it with his contract demands, and I've torn him a new one. Reimer in December - called the team out. It was after the Florida game, and I even said it to several people, he was mad, he practically swore. And then i said - I don't think that was the right thing for him to do because now he's got to back it up.
And the next game he played was Phoenix. and that was the game he let in that BRUTAL wrap around goal and that equally brutal shortsided goal. And the Leafs won in the shootout. [they were leading]. and then he played the third game in a row against the wings, and let in the same brutal wraparound, that crazy puck that went off his head down his chest and into the net, and the other one. and then he gets pulled, and he's all "glaring" at Randy - even though he was crap.
His next game was Carolina [and I gave him credit because that was the game the Leafs just flat out decided they weren't even going to try. but that was also when we started to hear that the leafs were suffering from the flu and I forgave everyone for that effort, but even then Jay ripped the team a new one, and then the Washington game happened then they went on that tear].
after Carolina he won in Colorado.
After Colarado he came into the Dallas game [Bernier was pulled] and he looked WORSE. [and the team decided not to show up] and then the Winnipeg game happened and he looked bru.tal.
After that he didn't play until the Columbus game [loss - but he looked decent] and then SJ [brutal, but so did the whole team], and then LA, where he was a star, and then 'just okay' in Washington, Detroit and tonight.
Now Bernier- has called out his team many a times. [it's actually funny how many times Bernier's done it], regarding the defensive play. But there have been times where he's also said HIS play isn't good. He's pissed off if he lets in 3 games a night. [and has said more than once, some games he's actually surprised when he's told/sees that the short total is what it is because it didn't feel/seem like it, vs saying how tired he is or there were a lot of shots.
That's off the top of my head - if I missed a game, or something I'll stand corrected. But you can't call out the team, and play like that, and then expect people to go "oh well, you know last year, he did this, so he deserves that. Well, guess what. we need him to do it now - and he's not. Clarkson is getting torn to shreds because he's simply useless out there - and he had two great seasons and no one wants to hear it, or will give the guy even the glimmer of hope he can even duplicate 1/2 of what he did. Nope. it's all of "Clarkson sucks."
but it's supposed to be Reimer
right now simply due to the fact of what he did last year. that doesn't make sense to me.
(which he probably is).
